Nauryz 2011

Today is the Kazakh new year holiday of Nauryz. Like last year, we prepared by doing some spring cleaning. This weekend we filled the back of my car with donations for goodwill. We also went bigger and better with this year's Nauryz flowers.

This year's Nauryz bouquet (more on this in a future blog post).

For dinner tonight I made Plov, another traditional Kazakh meal. I borrowed this recipe from one of my online friends from the Kazakh adoptive community. Maureen has two beautiful boys from Kazakhstan.

Plov

3 Tbsp Olive oil
2 carrots grated or diced
1 onion chopped
2 large chicken breast cubed
1 ½ c basmati rice
6-8 cloves minced garlic
2 c chicken stock
1/2 c water

Sauté carrot and onion in olive oil. Add chicken and a lot of pepper and brown. Wash and drain rice. Layer rice over mixture. Add stock and water over rice. Bring to boil. Set to lowest heat. Cover and cook about 30 minutes. Spread garlic over top and steam 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Rest 5 minutes. Stir in garlic. Salt if needed.

Happy Nauryz!

I'm can't wait until Nauryz falls on a weekend so we can do something a little more elaborate. Another fellow Kazakh mommy blogger has a ton of great recipes and craft ideas, a real Martha Stewart. I would need a week to prepare for her Nauryz feast.